I wanted to talk about the difference between probiotics,digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid. Many people are confused about what each of these do. Firstly,hydrochloric acid is secreted into the stomach and its ability is to break down proteins into single amino acids. Many of us don’t produce enough hydrochloric acid, which can cause gastric reflux symptoms. Often by taking betaine hydrochloride or apple cider vinegar diluted in water before each meal, that may help to relieve the gastric reflux symptoms.Often, refluxcaused by eating on the run.
Digestive enzymes are secreted by the pancreas into the stomach, and they help break down carbohydrates and essential fatty acids or fats. Many of us have gas and bloating after eating, which is a sign that there’s not enough digestive enzymes being produced. A comprehensive digestive enzyme containing protease, amylase and lipase is ideal to help. Amylase is for carbohydrate digestion, lipase is for fat digestion and proteas is for proteins, that will greatly enhance digestion and solve the problem of not producing enough digestive enzymes. Also, eating more foods which contain enzymes, such as raw fruits and vegetables are important to help build up our own ability to digest better.
Probiotics help to build the immune system. They decrease inflammation in the digestive tract and help heal leaky gut or permeations in the gastro-intestinal lining, which are holes basically. They’re important to take after having taken antibiotics for bacterial infections and they help to bulk up the stool to ensure optimal bowel function. If there’s a potential for constipation, we may need probiotics to supplement and bulk up the stool. We do get probiotics in specific foods like kefir, miso soup, kimchi, raw natural sauerkraut, raw fermented vegetables, which we can easily make, also in kombucha, which we can also make, and we can take them in pill form.
If there’s ever a gastrointestinal infection, high dose probiotics, from a reputable brand are very helpful along with Grapefruit seed extract to kill the pathogenic bacteria.